Folding chair



Jan. 18, 1927. 1,614,763

W. C. RASTETTER FOLDING CHAIR Filed 001;. 51, 1924 9%. C'pfi lvzmo m/ ATTORNEY rumba Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. mSTE'IT-ER. FORT WAYNE,

ronnme CHAIR.

Application fled October 31, 1524. Serial in. 746,961.

This invention relates to improvements in folding chairs and the object thereof 1s to provide a folding chair of rigid construction with a frame that extends'in a flat plane,

and with a seat and legs that when folded will lie in a plane common with that of the frame which will admit of a group of chairs being ranked within a small space.

This object is accomplished by the conl0 struction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Fig. 1 is a side elevation embodying the invention;

2 is a front elevation pro'ehted from Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a bottom p an view of the seat, including also the frame and legs in section in the plane of the seat.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a frame 1, having parallel legs 2 connected with a crosspiece 3 near their lower ends, and including also a horizontal supportm bar 4- secured at its ends respectively to t 0 frame at the front of the legs 2 at oints approximately midway between the ttom and top of the frame. The supporting bar 4 1s shaped so that its middle portion extends in a line back from the front plane of the frame, and the ends of the bar, where se cured to the legs are set in so.that the bar does not project at any point outwardly beyond the front plane of the frame.

A pair of legs 5 are connected at their upper ends respective] by means of pivots 6, with corresponding egs 2 at points above the supporting bar 4, and fold by turning upon their pivots into the frame between the legs.

A seat 7 having a rearwardly extendingprojection 8 at each side thereof is secured pivotally between the folding legs 5, there being a pivot 9 connecting each extension 8 to the corresponding foldlng leg 5, and. the seat turns upon said pivots upwardly into the frame when the legs are folded. A U-shaped shackle 10 having rearwardly extending arms 11 is pivotally supported on the bar 4, its arms being connected respectively by means of pivots 12, with the corresponding extension 8 of the seat, said yoke and extensions forming a toggle connectlon between the supporting bar 4 and the folding legs 5 that limits the outward swing of the folding legs relative to the frame.

A back member 13, formed of flexible material, such as canvas or leather, is secured at its upper lateral portions-14 to the corresponding upper-parts of the frame 1, and its lower lateral portions 15 are secured to the rear end of the seat 7 so that the back is held in tension between the upper part and the seat when the seat is extended in position for use.

In the operation of the invention the seat is swung downwardly on its pivotal supports 9 and rests upon the supporting bar 4, and the yoke member 11 which is pivoted 'to the seat turns upon the bar 4 causing the seat to move backwardly to a limited extent so that the folding legs are swung rearwardly upon their pivotal supports in the frame to a corresponding limited extent. The back 13 which is attached to 'the'seat is drawn tight when the seat is turned down to its positlon for use. I

To fold the chair it is only necessary to swing the seat manually up into the frame 3 between the folding legs, which will have the effect of automatically drawing the folding legs into the frame between the legs thereof owing to the toggle action of the yoke member and seat. Also, as the seat is folded into the frame the back becomes sufficiently slack as to permit movement of the seat into the frame and extends in a common plane therewith. Thus, a number of folded chairs may be stacked flatwise, one upon the other, without the parts of one chair obstructing the adjacent chair.

What I claim is: Q 1. In a chair of the class described, a frame having a pair of legs spaced apart; a pair of folding legs pivoted respectively at their upper ends to the frame and extending between the legs-thereof; a folding seat positioned between the folding legs and pivoted at its rear end thereto respectively; a supporting bar transversely disposed and connected at itsends to the correspondin legs of the frame at the front thereof an limiting the downward swing of the seat; a yoke member disposed beneath the seat and aving pivotal connection at its forward end on said bar and at its opposite end with said seat forward of the rear end thereof and limiting the rearward movement of said seat; and a flexible back secured at its upper end to the frame and at its lower end to the rear part of the seat forward of the legs of the frame; a folding seat having pivotal connection at its rear end with the folding legs; a member on the frame operable to limit the downward swing of the seat and means disposed beneath the seat and having pivotal relation with said member and the seat operable to prevent forward and backward movement of the seat on said member.

{5; In a folding chair, a frame having a pair of legs spaced apart and seat su portng bar connecting the legs; a pair 0 foldmg legs ivoted respectively at their u per ends to t e frame above said bar; a fol seat having pivoted connection at its rear end with the folding legs and supported relation on saidbar when in position for use and swinging arms beneath the seat on said bar and having pivotal connections respectively with the seat at corresponding points forward of the rear end of the seat operable to prevent the forward and backward movement of the seat in the frame while the seat is sustained on the bar.

In testimon whereof I aflix m signature.

W LIAM C. RAS ETTER. 

